How to survive Tanya Borisova Vazrazhdane Secondary School, Ruse, Bulgaria

How to surviveTanya Borisova

Vazrazhdane Secondary School, Ruse,Bulgaria

A Natural disasters course on web2.0erc.eu

http://platform.web20erc.eu/course/view.php?id=308

The aims of the course – The course aims to develop students’ skills in three areas:

1. Survival skills; 2. Language communicative skills;

3. Social skills

A: Survival skills:To provide students with information on the nature of three natural disasters( earthquakes, floods and fires) which are most likely to happen in our geo-physical location as well as to inform them about the most appropriate actions they have to take in order to be prepared to face dangerous situations so as to survive, or to help other people in case of casualties, or how to avoid additional injuries and damages.

B: Language communicative skills:Through various activities to exercise the four main communicative skills –

receptive and productive:To encourage students to read additional information in articles, (developing their reading skills), to listen and watch videos for general understanding ( developing

students’ listening skills) to share thoughts orally – in class – speaking and in written form on the platform ( developing their speaking and writing skills)

To teach new vocabulary on the topic To create inter disciplinary links between Geography, History and English

C: Social skills *To encourage students to do their “boring” school work

*To encourage students to use the internet for educational purposes*To get students know more about specific jobs such as of a nurse and a

firefighter, which do not seem to be popular with and desired by young people

To improve students’ interpersonal relations through group work

The Course1. Natural Disasters- an on-line, web2.erc.eu based course in three Modules

Module 1 – Earthquakes Module 2 – Floods

Module 3 – FiresPractical training – Lectures and training:

At the school’s surgery- At the regional fire station

In class training and language development

Teacher’s work

Planning Educational Materials selection Setting the tasks Helping students with their work on-line Taking part in the discussion Supervising and commenting Assessment ( summative and formative)

Teaching language on-line

Students develop their communicative skills Reading comprehension Listening comprehension Writing NB – Speaking can also be practiced on-line

in webinars via skype or other social network options

Procedure

The on-line Modules’ structure: 1. Warm-up questions for discussion on the

Forum space 2. Articles to read and discuss 3. Videos to watch and discuss

Module 1 Earthquakes

http://platform.web20erc.eu/course/view.php?id=308

earthquakes

Module 2 Floods

• What causes floods

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/environment/environment-natural-disasters/landslides-and-more/floods/

Module 3 Fires

http://platform.web20erc.eu/course/view.php?id=308

Fires at home

In class activities

Discussions on the topics Writing a Thank-you letter

INTERDISCIPLINAR LINKS

Knowledge and skills in

Geography

History

Social studies and Civil defense

Communication

Medical care and first aid

Results

Students feel more confident Students have learnt about the Nature of Natural

disasters and ways to survive Students learnt New Vocabulary on the Topics Students know how to write a formal Thank-you

letter and speak about past events Students know how to help other people in case of

an emergency Students know how to use the web2.0erc.eu platform

for educational purposes

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